In 1885, a Mr. Bell of Brandon complained that James had improperly claimed this land when Mr. Bell had not fulfilled all of the homesteading requirements. Since James was the postmaster in Brandon, it was impossible for him to live on the homestead property for six months in every year for three years. As well, James had not made the proper improvements to the land. It is not clear what happened to this property.

James continued to be the postmaster through the 1880s and 1890s.

J. C. Kavanagh, Brandon’s first postmaster, at left, with other Kavanagh family members, Martin Kavanagh, The Assiniboine Basin: A Social Study of Discovery, Exploration and Settlement; November 2007, reproduction of 1946 and 1967 editions; following page 182; http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/books/assiniboinebasin.pdf.

In 1898, James was a director of the Northwest Fire Insurance Company.

On December 24, 1900, he was dismissed from the position of postmaster for Kavanagh for allegedly “offensive partisanship.”

About 1902, he moved to Winnipeg and became the proprietor of the Leland Hotel

About 1904, he sold the Leland Hotel to Eli Joel “Mac” Rochon. James was still living in Winnipeg in 1906.

James first appeared in the Vancouver directories in 1910. He lived at 885 Chilco Street from 1910 to 1913. In 1915, he was at the Grosvenor Hotel at 840 Howe Street.

James and Nellie travelled frequently to California, especially during the winter months. Their daughter, Mary, was married to Percival Thompson, who was from a wealthy Chicago family. Percival and Mary built a large house in Coronado, California, just down the beach from the Hotel del Coronado.

By 1915, James and Nellie were settled in California. For a time, Nellie’s address was the Bryson Apartments, which was then a new building on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles.

It appears that James died in Los Angeles County, California, on November 13, 1922.

Nellie continued to live in California. She died in San Diego on November 27, 1944.

James and Nellie had the following children.

Mary Adelaide Alberta Kavanagh (daughter of James Charles Kavanagh)

Mary Adelaide Alberta Kavanagh was born in Manitoba (probably in Brandon) on March 29, 1885.

On September 5, 1908, in Seattle, Washington, she married Percival Thompson. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 26, 1874. His father was William Hale Thompson, Senior, who was a wealthy real estate investor and member of the Illinois state legislature. His mother was Medora Gale, whose father, Stephen Francis Gale (1812-1905), was one of the original incorporators of the town of Chicago. Percival’s brother, William “Big Bill” Hale Thompson (1869-1944), was the notorious mayor of Chicago from 1915 to 1923 and from 1927 to 1931.

Percival was a broker in Chicago from 1897 to 1909. He was with the Southern Syndicate in San Diego from 1909 to 1914. He retired in 1914 and moved to Coronado, California. He was the vice chairman of the San Diego chapter of the American Red Cross in 1918.

Percival died in Coronado, California, on January 13, 1943.

Mary died in San Diego on November 28, 1960.

Edward (Edmund) Lewis Kavanagh

Edmund (or Edward) Lewis Kavanagh was born in Brandon, Manitoba, on November 20, 1888. He worked as a teamster.

He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. He apparently survived the war.

No further information is available for him at this time.

Joseph Gregory Neville Kavanagh

Joseph Gregory (Neville) Kavanagh was born in Brandon, Manitoba, on March 13, 1890.

He worked as a lumberman. In 1917, he enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War, and served with the forestry depot. He was later a probationary temporary second lieutenant in the Central Flying School in England.

Joseph’s marriage to Lucile

On December 21, 1920, in Los Angeles, California, Joseph married Lucile Carter Pettet, whose 1909 marriage to George Marion Pettet (1885-1966) had ended in divorce. Lucile was born in Yates City, Illinois on February 25, 1891. Her father was Herman J. Hensley. Her mother was Etha Belle Carter.

Joseph and Lucile were divorced by 1924. In 1930, Lucile was living in Los Angeles with her son, John.

On April 11, 1931, in Orange County, California, Lucile married Charles Gage Middleditch. Charles was born in Amherstburg, Ontario, on January 7, 1893. His father was Joseph Middleditch. His mother was Alice Baxter. Charles had served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. He had been married before, but by 1931 he was divorced. It appears that he had moved to the United States sometime in the 1920s. Lucile and Charles were married only a short time. Charles died on March 9, 1932, in Glendale, California. He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.

By 1940, Lucile was again living with George Pettet. Lucile died in a hurricane off the coast of Mexico October 27, 1959. She was buried in Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood, California. George Pettet died in Laguna Beach, California, in June 1966. He was buried in Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood.

Joseph’s marriage to Corinne

By 1924, Joseph and Lucile were divorced. On September 12, 1924, in Long Beach, California, Joseph married Corinne Catherine Wysong. She was born in Dayton, Ohio on July 18, 1899. Her father was Charles Edward Stacy. Her mother was Jennie Ethel Wampler. Corinne had also been married before, to a Mr. Wyson, but this marriage had ended in divorce.

Joseph’s and Corinne’s marriage did not last. By 1940, Corinne was married to Earl J. Weston (also known as Joseph Earl Weston), who was a heat treater in a canning machine factory. They were living in San Antonio Judicial Township in Los Angeles County. Earl was born in Denver, Colorado on July 29, 1898. Corinne died in Los Angeles County on November 24, 1980. She was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Long Beach, California. Earl died in San Diego on October 16, 1985. He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Long Beach.

In 1942, Joseph registered with the United States military forces. His registration card said that he had been born in Seattle, Washington. He was living at 919 Seventh Street in San Diego, California. He was working as a guard at the naval supply depot in San Diego.

In 1949, Joseph went to Mexico for a period of time. He returned to the United States on October 28, 1949.

Joseph died in San Diego on January 3, 1957.

Stanley Norbert Kavanagh

Stanley Norbert Kavanagh was born in Brandon, Manitoba, on June 2, 1893.

He was attending a private school in 1911.

In 1915, he enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He was struck off strength in December 1915, because of illness or wounds.

In 1917, he registered with the United States military system. He gave his address as the Piccadily Hotel, which was at 337 South Serrano Street, Los Angeles, California.

In 1924, he was working as an investment salesman. He was living at 620 South Manhattan Street in Los Angeles.

On April 20, 1924, in Los Angeles, Stanley married Dorette B. Kendis. She was born in Nebraska about 1902. Her father was Adolph Phillip Kendis (1877-1962). Her mother was Stella Leece (1879-1961).

Stanley died in San Diego, California, on December 18, 1953.

Dorette later married Mr. Ridgway. Dorette died in Upland, San Bernadino, California, on July 14, 1983.

Kathleen Frances Kavanagh

Kathleen Frances Kavanagh was born in Manitoba (probably Brandon) on April 5, 1894.

On December 11, 1917, in Los Angeles, California, Kathleen married Egmont Francis Koenig, who was an army officer.

Egmont was born on April 23, 1892, in New York City, New York. His father was Dr. Herman Koenig. His mother was Louise Alice Soff. Egmont was a career army officer.

It is not clear what happened to Egmont’s and Kathleen’s marriage. In 1921, when Egmont applied for a United States passport, he referred only to his son, Stanley (who was born in October 1918 in San Diego).

On June 19, 1923, in Washington, D.C., Egmont married Eleanor C. Hill. She was born on January 8, 1902 in Washington, D.C.

Egmont died in Santa Barbara, California, on March 29, 1974. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Eleanor died in Washington, D.C. on October 9, 1990.

Doreen Kavanagh (daughter of James Charles Kavanagh)

Doreen Kavanagh was born in Manitoba (probably in Brandon) on May 4, 1896 (some sources say 1897).

She was an excellent golfer, and she was runner up in the Pebble Beach championship for women in 1923.

On June 23, 1924, in Los Angeles, California, she married William Wilson Campbell, who was an insurance salesman and realtor.

Memorable Manitobans: James C. Kavanagh (1850-1923), http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/kavanagh_jc.shtml: “Born in Ontario on 9 March 1850, he was appointed Brandon’s first postmaster in August 1881. He was dismissed from the position in December 1900 for allegedly “offensive partisanship”, apparently with the approval of Clifford Sifton. He moved to Winnipeg in mid-1902, purchased the Leland Hotel from W. D. Douglas, and operated it until 1904 when he sold the business to E. J. Rochon.”

Daily Nor’Wester, February 12, 1898, page 6, “The fourteenth annual meeting of the Shareholders of the Northwest Fire Insurance Company was held on Thursday the 10th ins., at the head office of the Company, No. 371 Main street, when the following directors were elected: . . . J.C. Kavanagh, Brandon . . .”

Brandon’s Politics and Politicians by W. Leland Clark, Published by the Brandon Sun, 1981, page 16, http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/books/brandonpolitics.pdf: “Local Liberals naturally expected that all Tory officeholders would be immediately replaced by Liberals after Laurier’s victory in 1896 and some became extremely agitated when this did not occur. The fact that a Conservative blacksmith was still receiving some of the Experimental Farm business caused “a lot of ( Brandon) Liberals”6 to declare that they would vote against Sifton in the next election. While Sifton never agreed with his more rabid supporters in their contention that all Tories should automatically be dismissed, he did concur in specific instances as in the 1901 dismissal of Brandon postmaster Joseph [sic] Kavanagh for allegedly ” offensive partisanship.”‘

“Why Mr. Kavanagh Was Dismissed,” Daily Sun, February 19, 1901, page 1: Mr. N. Boyd was informed that Jas. Kavanagh had been removed from the position of postmaster of Brandon for active political partisanship. Mr. Kavanagh had held office since August 1881. His successor, Kenneth Campbell, was appointed on December 24 last.”

Society, Vancouver Province, February 4, 1913, page 8: “A great many Vancouverites and other Western Canadians are taking part in the festivities attendant on the Coronado season and are having a gay time at that popular southern resort. . . . Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Kavanagh have taken a house at this favorite rendezvous and have been taking an active part in the many gaieties of the place. Their daughter, Mrs. Percival Thomson, resides at Coronado and has been showing many kind attentions to the visitors from this city . . .”

Society, Vancouver Province, January 7, 1914, page 7: “Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Kavanaugh expect to leave town next week to spend the remainder of the winter at Coronado Beach where they will join Mrs. Thomson, their daughter, who is already there.”

Society, Vancouver World, April 26, 1915, page 5: “Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Kavanagh expect to leave in a few days for Coronado Beach.”

Mackerels in the Moonlight: Four Corrupt American Mayors, by Gerald Leinwand, Jefferson, North Carolina, McFarland, 2004; pages 11-12. “While on leave in January 1864, Commander Thompson married Medora Gale of one of the first families in Chicago. Her father, Stephen, had been one of the thirty-eight incorporators of the town of Chicago. The couple’s first child, Helen, was born in 1866 and on May 14, 1867, William Hale Thompson, Jr., was born. There were two more male additions to the family, Gale in 1871 and Percival in 1876.”

The Man who Got Away: The Bugs Moran Story : a Biography, by Rose Keefe; Nashville, Tennessee, Cumberland House Publishing, 2005, page 41: “William Hale Thompson Sr. invested in Chicago real estate and became wealthy beyond anticipation when the Great Fire of 1871 spared the block he owned on West Madison Street. Being one of the few landlords with property available for rent once the flames had been quenched and the smoke had dissipated, he made massive profits and invested wisely. At the time of his death in 1891, he left an estate valued at $2 million.”

Chicago: A Biography, by Dominic A. Pacyga; Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2009, page 179: “Born in Boston in 1867 to a well-established New England father and the daughter of one of the original incorporators of Chicago, he moved with his family to the city in 1868. His father, William Hale Thompson, Sr., dealt in real estate and became a Republican member of the Illinois state legislature and was known for passing the first state law to prevent cruelty to animals and for helping to establish a state militia.”

Bulletin of Yale University, Obituary Record of Graduates Deceased During the Year Ending July 1, 1943, page http://mssa.library.yale.edu/obituary_record/1925_1952/1942-43.pdf: “Percival Thompson, Ph.B. 1896. Born September 26, 1874, in Chicago, III; Died January 13, 1943, in Coronado, Calif. Father, William Hale Thompson, a real-estate dealer in Chicago, member Illinois House of Representatives 1876-80, son of Captain Ebenezer Thompson and Ann Mary Thompson of Durham, N.H.; Mother, Medora Eastham (Gale) Thompson, daughter of Stephen Francis and Medora Augusta (Smith) Gale of Chicago. Phillips-Andover Select course, Class cup committee, member University Club and The Cloister and Book and Snake. With Diamond Match Company, Chicago, 1896-97, broker in Chicago 1897-1909 (successively with William H Colvin & Company and Milmine Bodman); associated with Southern Syndicate, San Diego, Calif., 1909 until retirement about 1914, resided in Coronado 1914-43, vice-chairman San Diego chapter American Red Cross 1918. Married September 5, 1908, in Seattle, Wash, Mary Alberta, daughter of James Charles and Nellie Irene Kavanagh. Children Helen Gale (Mrs. John R Fordyce, Jr., died in October, 1933), Kathleen Mary, the wife of Lieut. Comdr. Charles Allen Buchanan (grad U S Naval Academy 1926), Marion Frances, the wife of William Darling, and Mary Lenore, the wife of Wilson North. Death due to paralysis. Buried in Holy Cross Mausoleum, San Diego. Survived by wife, three daughters, six grandchildren, a sister, Mrs. Helen Thompson Pelouze of Chicago, and two brothers, Gale Thompson and William Hale Thompson, LL D., both of Chicago.”

“Hoover’s Former Aid is Engaged to Wed,” Pittsburgh Press, Sep 1, 1930, page 18, https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Bo4cAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NI4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5247%2C5057093: “The engagement of Miss Kathleen Thompson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Percival Thompson of Coronado, Cal, to Lieutenant Charles Allen Buchanan, who was formerly Naval aid to President Hoover, and who is now chief of staff at the Naval War College, New York, has been announced. Miss Thompson is a member of the San Diego Junior League.”

Photograph of Neville Kavanaugh and William Martin Moreland: Private correspondence from a relative of the Kavanagh family: “The photo was probably taken in Long Beach, CA. . . .Kaye Rowe lived in Brandon, Manitoba. She wrote on the back of the photo ‘Neville Kavanaugh, (once lived in Yaeger house, 13th and Lorne)’. . . . Denise Moreland White wrote ‘Dad & Neville at L. Beach.’ . . . it may have been taken in 1937.”

Manitoba Archival Information Network; https://main.lib.umanitoba.ca/kaye-rowe-fonds-3: Fonds 1995.7.6.0 – Kaye Rowe Fonds: Rowe, Kathleen Moreland (1908-1995); Biographical history: “Kathleen (Moreland) Rowe (1908-1995) was born and educated in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She attended the University of Manitoba. Upon her marriage to G.R. Rowe in 1932, she moved to Brandon, Manitoba. In 1945, she began writing a column, ‘People Watching’ for the Brandon Daily Sun, covering local events of interest to women. . . .”

Galesburg Register-Mail, November 18, 1959, page 25, “Lucile Hensley Pettet, Yates City—Lucile Hensley Pettet, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. H. J. Hensley, formerly of Yates City, died in a recent hurricane off the coast of Mexico, According to the U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara, three American women drowned in the sinking of the Mexican coastal freighter, Sinaloa, during the hurricane Oct. 27. They were Mrs. Pettet, Mrs. Margaret Gower of Acapulco, and Mrs, [illegible] of Acapulco, who had been visiting Mrs. Pettet in Laguna Beach, Calif. Surviving are her husband George; her mother; one sister, Mrs. Harold North; and two sons, Dr. Richard and Dr. Charles, all of the Los Angeles vicinity. Memorial services were held In the First Presbyterian Church, Laguna Beach, Calif., Nov. 8.”

“United States Public Records, 1970-2009,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJJD-BX1V : accessed 27 July 2015), Dorette Ridgway, Residence, Upland, California, United States; a third party aggregator of publicly available information.